Method of applying aerosol detergent fog



Oct 27, 1959 H. A. TQULMIN, JR

METHOD OF APPLYING AEROSOL OETERGENT FOO Filed July 28, 1954 IN VENTOR A1A may A. Toc/M/N Je ATTORNEYS ling :agents are soaps `or detergents.

United States Patent C lMETHOD 'OF APPLYING AEROSOL DETERGENT FOG :Harry A. Toulmin, Jr., Dayton, Ohio, assigner to The Commonwealth Engineering Company of Ohio, Dayton, Ohio, `a corporation of Ohio lpplicationauly'28, 19'54, Serial No. 446,309

y2 Claims. (Cl. 134-25) The present invention relates to the use of a cleansing agent `in the form of a fog, 4more particularly toa novel Vmethod `of cleansing dishes by applyingr a `detergent fog thereto.

It has been the practice in the past for cleansing agents to 'take various forms. These` forms depended primarily upon therspecic application for which the cleaning agent :was lto beemployed. In practice, the conventional cleans- Inrecent years the use of detergents has been gradually increasing and supplanting the use of soaps in various applications. One of these applications is in the washing of dishes.

The detergents themselves are usually made `in liquid, or'other forms and, as such, are lapplied directly to the article lto be cleansed. AIn the washing of dishes the usual procedure is to introduce either a liquid vor a powder `detergent'into a quantity `of water in which `the dishes are to `be washed. In this operation, however, successful cleansing of the dishes dependsrupon using a consid- -erable quantity of detergent. In addition, itis necessary that the detergent be dissolved completely and concentrated equally throughout the entire quantity of water. Furthermore, in Ithis process of washing dishesit is necessary that the hands of the operator be immersed in water during the washing operation. In some instances 4this may result in irritation to the skin of the hands.

The present invention .proposes a novel article and method for washing dishes which leliminates the disadvantages discussed above. In this invention a liquid detergent is packaged in an aerosol container which contains a gaseous propellant. A suitable form `of a valve is provided on the-container to release the detergent in the form of a fog. By employing this article an improved method lo'f washing dishes is possible. This method -comprises placing the dishes` in a rack either in the sink or within an enclosing member, wetting the, dishes with hot water, and then applying the detergent in the 'form of a fog to the wet dishes. The dishes may then be rinsed `with warm water and then dried by evaporation or by any of the conventional methods. `This invention is related to the Vmethod of drying dishes as disclosedin the application Vfiled by the same inventor on August 3l, 1954, and having the Serial Number 453,354, `now abandoned.

Asthe detergent is released in the form of a fog, it can be seen that this Afog which is propelled by a gas under pressure will be very penetrating and will reach all `sur- 4faces of the dishes. In addition, the amount of detergent which is used maybe carefully regulated by manipulating the release valve on the aerosol container. In addition, there is no necessity whatsoever for the hands of the operator to come into contact with the detergent or the dishes `during the dish washing operation.

The article of this invention may be used with a dish washer in a manner which will be presently described.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a novel method of applying a detergent.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved method for cleansing dishes and the like.

It is :a still further object of this invention to'provide Ia method of applying a detergent fog to cleausedis'hes and other articles.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reference to the `following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is an over-all perspective View of the article disclosed as this invention; t

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the llines 2-2 of Figure l, showing the contents and operating mechanism ofthe container; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the valve mechanism in enlarged scale with a portion of the bracket removed.

Proceeding now to the drawings, more `particularly to Figure l wherein like reference symbols indicate the'same parts throughout the various views, 10 indicates generally an article constructed in accordance with this invention. The article 10 comprises 'an aerosol container l1'1 which lhas a neck portion 12. The neck portion 12 has external threads at 13. Figure l illustrates that the aerosol container 11 is mounted upon the top wall`14 of a dishwasher cabinet 1S. In order to 'clearly describe the operation of this invention, this invention will be :explained as it is employed in connection with the fdishwasher similar to the `type described in inventors application led on July 28, 1954, and having Serial Number 446,308.

The collar 16 has internal threads 17 and is rigidly secured to the top wall 14 by means `of welds 18 or by any suitable means. The `internal threads of the collar 16 are adapted for threaded cooperation with the eX- ternal threads 13 of the neck portion of the aerosolV container. A closure member 19 is rigidly secured within the neck portion `12. As shown in Figure 2 the `closure member 19 is threaded within the neck portion `12 and there is a gasket member 20 at the junction of the threaded and unthreaded portions on both the inner surface of the neck portion and the outer surface of the closure member. There is an axial bore 21 extending through the central portion of the closure Vmember 19. That .portion of the axial bore 21 adjacent the outer surface of the closure member is `enlarged lso as to for-m an annular shoulder 22. A needle valve 23 is rigidly isecured within the axial bore 21 by means of radially eX- tending arms 24 which are connected Ito the isurface of the axial bore 21. The needle Valve 23 Vhas-'apointed portion `25 which is adapted to be seated on .a valve seat 26 located in-an `axial bore 27 which extends completely through a cylindrical closure element V28. Thecylind'ri- 'cal closure element 28 Vis slidably received within the axial bore 21. f A plurality of longitudinally-extending rods 29 interconnect 4the :cylindrical closure member .28 with an actuating head 3i). The actuating vhead-30v is received within the enlarged portion of the axial bore 21 and extends beyond the outer surface ofthe closure member 19.

The actuating head `30 has an axially extending passage 31 passing completely through the head. The passage 31 is adaptedto 'cooperate with an aperture 32 inthetop wall 14 of the dishwasher 15.

A bracket member 33 is attached to the inner surface o thel closure member 19. The bracket member 33 has a chamber 34 and a longitudinal passage 3S extending from the chamber 34. There is a tube 36 secured to the bracket 33 and the tube 36 extends vertically to the bottom wall of the aerosol container 11. A spring 37 is positioned between one wall of the chamber 34 and the cylindrical closure member 28 so as to bias the closure member 28 into close relationship with the needle valve 23.

A clear passage is established from the interior of the aerosol container to the exterior thereof by rotating the aerosol container. This rotation will result in the closure member 19 approaching the top wall 14. The actuating head 30, however, will remain stationary and will con f sequently cause the vcylindrical enclosure member 28 to be moved upwardly from its resting position upon the needle valve 23. As the member 28 moves upwardly, it will cause the needle valve 23 to become .unseated and consequently will, result in the contents of the aerosol container passing through the axial bore 27, the axial bore21, the passage 31, to the aperture 32 i-nto the interior of the dishwasher.

Virtually the entire interior of the aerosol container is occupied by a liquid detergent indicated at 39. This detergent may be a conventional liquid detergent of which there arevnumerous types on the market today. The exact This propellant is of such a type that it is easily VIt is pointed out that while a particular valve mechanism "has been described inconnection with the aerosol container of this invention, it should be borne in mind that any other value mechanism which would release the detergent from the container in the form of a fog would also be suitable. There are many aerosol valve arrangements in use today, any one of which is suitable for applieation with this invention. Consequently, a valve mechanism could be employed which would depend upon other means for operation rather than rotation of the aerosol container.

It is also not necessary for the detergent to be packaged in an aerosol container such as described above. This detergent may be packaged in a plastic container having exible walls where pressure on the walls will result in In the event dishes are to be washed without the use of any dishwashing apparatus, it is only necessary that the dishes be loaded on to afrack and the rack be placed in a sink. After the dishes have been thoroughly wet down with hot water, an aerosol container having a detergent therein is then directed at the dishes in order to release a detergent fog which will completely cover all surfaces of the dishes. The resulting .cleansed dishes may then be dried by-hand.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention discloses a novel article of manufacture which enables detergent to be released in fog. -In addition, a novel and effective method of washing dishes or lsimilar articles by the use of a detergent fog is also disclosed. As pointed out previously, the application of a cleansing agent in the form of a fog results in every crevice and surface of the article being reached by this detergent. In addition, there is no necessity for the hands of the operator to ever come in contact with the cleansing agent. Not only is a cleansing agent packaged in the manner disclosed by this invention convenient to use, but will also prove to be very economical as the cost of packaging a detergent in this manner is very little.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modiiications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

l. In a method of washing dishes using a liquid detergent packaged under pressure with a gaseous propellant, the steps of supporting the dishes, passing hot water over the dishes to wet the dishes but not submerging the dishes in a body of water, spraying said so-packaged detergent in the form of a fog against the wet dishes, and rinsing the wet detergent-laden 'dishes to remove the detergent therefrom. l

2. In a method of washing dishes using a liquid detergent packaged under pressure with a gaseous propelthe detergent being released from the container in the form ofva fog. These plastic containers are presently being used for sprays, deodorants and the like and would be suitable for use in this invention.

In order to employ the article of this invention the container may be used either as illustratedl in Figure 1 wherein it is attached to the wall of a dishwasher or the container may be used by itself. In the former instance the dishwaster is loaded to capacity and the dishes are wet down. The aerosol container is then operated so as to release a cloud of detergent fog within the interior of the dishwasher. When a sufficient amount of detergent has been introduced within the dishwaster all the dishes therein will be coated with the detergent. The action of the detergent upon the wet dishes will serve to clean the dishes. The dishes may then be suitably rinsed and dried by conventional methods.

If the dishes are being washed in a dishwaster which has no provision for the attachment of an aerosol container thereon, it is only necessary to open the closure member of the dishwasher and to release a detergent fog within the dishwasher by operating the aerosol valve mechanism. This results in an efficient method of thoroughly coating the dishes with a detergent.

lant, the steps of supporting the dishes in the atmosphere but not in a body of cleaning Huid, applying hoty water to the dishes to wet all surfaces of the dishes while supporting the dishes in the atmosphere, spraying the sopackaged detergent in the form of a fog directly onto the wet dishes, and applying warm water to the wet detergentladen dishes to remove the detergent therefrom whereby there is no necessity for the dishes to be contacted by hand during the washing operation. v

vReferences Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,907,875 Robertson .May 9, 1933 2,153,577?. Levine ,Apr. 11, 1939 2,301,601 Wittwer Nov. 10, 1942 2,477,998 McCowan L`Aug. 2, 1949 2,506,449 Greenwood May 2, 1950 2,529,808 Martin Nov. 141950 2,552,857 KnappY May 15, 1951 2,565,954 Dey 1 Aug. 2s, 1951 2,593,165 Metzger Apr. 15, 19752 2,621,041 Eiord Dec. 9, 1952 2,643,914 Reswick June 30, 1953 2,644,473 Fox VJuly 7, 1953 2,655,480 Spitzer Oct. 13, 1953 2,689,576 Colstad Sept. 21, 1954 

1. IN A METHOD OF WASHING DISHING USING A LIQUID DETERGENT PACKAGED UNDER PRESSURE WITH A GASEOUS PROPELLANT, THE STEPS OF SUPPORTING THE DISHES, PASSING HOT WATER OVER THE DISHES TO WET THE DISHES BUT NOT SUBMERGING THE DISHES IN A BODY OF WATER, SPRAYING SAID SO-PACDAGED DETERGENT IN THE FORM OF A FOG AGAINST THE WET DISHES, AND RINSING THE WET DETERGENT-LADEN DISHES TO REMOVE THE DETERGENT THEREFROM. 